Controversy Trails Alleged Detention Of Two Minors For 8 Months By Hospital

Controversy has continued to trail the alleged detention of two minors for eight months by a private hospital in Udu council area of Delta state over inability of their parent/guardians to pay N400, 000 medical bill.

The group, International Federation of Female Lawyers,IFFL (Litigation Committee) Delta State Branch which has taken up the matter with the hospital on Wednesday October 4, alleged that the hospital, Royal Clinic in Udu Local Government Area detained two minors, Caryn Erikhioya (16yrs) and Great Favour(14years) for eight months against their wish.

The hospital, the group alleged held the minors after treating them of accident injuries for eight months over the unsettled medical bills incurred during the period.

Giving a graphic details of the development, the IFFL Chairperson, Mary Akujobi who led a team of female lawyers disclosed that the two girls were knocked down on top a commercial motorcycle along Udu Expressway by one Alfred Ogboru since January.

She claimed that the two girls sustained grievous bodily injuries with one of them having a fractured leg.

Akukobi stated that the victims were rushed them to the hospital for treatment by the same Alfred Ogboru  who deposited twenty thousand naira with a promise to take full responsibility of the medical bills.

According to her, the said Ogboru later abandoned the girls in the hospital which he allegedly claimed to be his private clinic and refused to pay the medical bills which later amounted to the tune of four hundred thousand naira.

Akujobi however, stated that the continued detention of the two girls who cannot speak for themselves under the law of contract is “Unlawful”, saying, “We want their immediate release because it is unacceptable. Their lives are being wasted here.”

Akujobi who was flanked by Mrs. Cynthia Onyegurlae, Mrs. Jeromah Olugida, Mrs. Fejiro Itesah Edafe and Mr. Joshua Omorere, President of the Nigerian Child Welfare Fund vowed that her organization will take the girls out of the hospital.

The Medical Director of Royal Hospital who was simply identified as Dr. Owata faulted the claims of Akujobi saying,” Your choice of words are wrong.”

“They were not kidnapped. They were brought to the hospital for treatment and that we did.”

Dr. Owata who threatened to slap the female lawyer challenged her to go to court over the matter.

In his words,” It is even against our image to say we are detaining the girls against their wish. Get your facts right. I think this meeting has run its cause” as he walked out.

Before he walked out he Narrated the side of the hospital pointing out that the said Ogboru agreed to take full responsibility of the medical bills incurred but later abandoned the girls at the hospital.

The doctor noted that efforts to reach Alfred Ogboru who is before now has been a customer of the hospital were futile.

Dr. Owata later claimed that the grand mother to the two girls promised to take responsibility of the medical bills after Alfred Ogboru disappeared after dropping his particulars.

But the grandmother to the two girls(name unknown) denied the claims saying,” No. I didn’t give him any assurance of paying the bills.”

She explained that contacted her family members who helped her raised one hundred thousand naira for the operation of the orthopaedic works on the leg of one of the girls by a surgeon.

As at the time of filing this report, the two sisters are still confined to a room in the hospital who have refused to release them.

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